Rest in Peace Tim Russert

I know many have already heard the news that Tim Russert has died of a (possible) heart attack while at work earlier this afternoon at the age of 58, but I want to add my 2 cents. I could always count on Tim to have an interesting show, unless I really couldn’t stand the interviewee. [...]

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New Air Force Leadership Recommendations Announced

Following the recent resignations of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Air Force, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has announced his recommendations to fill these positions along with two additional Air Force leadership changes. Gates has recommended Michael Donley to be nominated as Secretary of the Air Force. [...]

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What’s Happening in Congress?

War Supplemental Still Delayed.
The fiscal 2008 War Supplemental will not be considered in the House of Representatives until next week at the earliest. Priority has been placed on regular year appropriations bills over the war supplemental that will fund the ongoing actions in the war on terror and our service-members deployed in support of these [...]

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Veteran’s Benefits

Although this is often confusing to our members of Congress, most of our members returning from deployment are both veterans and participating service-members in the Selected Reserves subject to redeployment. Health care for our member/veterans remains very much a readiness issue.
Many have compared the confusing flood of information regarding veterans’ benefits given to our members [...]

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Mental Health Care

At its June 11, 2008 hearing, the HCVA heard testimony from Dr. Lisa H. Jacobs and Terri L. Tanelian, of the Rand Corporation regarding Rand’s recently published “Invisible Wounds of War– Summary and Recommendations for Addressing Psychological and Cognitive injuries.” The Rand Corporation found that 300,000 OIF/OEF veterans are suffering from either [...]

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House Approves Military Construction

VA Spending Bill.
The House panel approved a draft bill for the Military Construction– Veteran’s Affairs spending bill for fiscal year 2009 on Thursday. The legislation approves $72.2 billion in discretionary spending for military construction, family housing, and the Veteran’s Affairs Department. This is $3.4 billion more than the president’s budget requested.

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Budget Guidance May Include Cut to the Air NG

On June 2, 2008 the Heritage Foundation published a report indicating that the Air National Guard has been directed to cut it’s budget for the FY10 POM by one–eighth or 12.5%. The report notes that “ … this type of budget cut would be disastrous for the Air Force Guard … Specifically, a cut [...]

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What’s Happening at NGAUS?

KS Governors Military Council Visits Washington.
On Wednesday NGAUS briefed the Kansas Governor’s Military Council on the association’s role, the status of the FY09 defense bills and our outlook for the future. Much of the discussion dealt with new mission questions for the ANG and ongoing readiness concerns for the ARNG. Like other states, Kansas [...]

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NGAUS – Colorado NG Senior Command Event

Colorado National Guard Senior Command Staff hold event at National Guard Memorial Building.
The leadership and joint staff of the Colorado National Guard held a meet-and-greet congressional breakfast in the Hall of States at the National Guard Memorial building on Wednesday morning. Senator Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) and Congressman Mark Udall (D-Colo.) both stopped by [...]

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